The afternoon sun slanted through the tall, arched windows of the academy's lecture hall, washing the empty rows with amber light. Dust motes floated lazily in the shafts, and the faint chatter of distant students leaked in through the half-open door.
Most of the academy had already emptied out after a long day of lessons, but Jae found himself lingering, his pace casual, his hands tucked in his pockets. Beside him, Byun trailed with an exaggerated sigh, his blond hair catching the last glimmers of sunlight.
"You know," Byun grumbled, nudging Jae with his shoulder, "you spend way too much time with those girls. Tirel, Elise, Yuna… I can barely get a word in these days."
Jae smirked faintly at the accusation, rubbing a hand through his hair in that half-confused, half-amused way of his. "What can I say? They come to me. I'm just a victim of my own charm."
